What Makes Costco’s King Crab Legs So Special?

Often expensive and highly prized for its rich, sweet flavor, the red king crab, also known as the Alaskan king crab, weighs up to 24 pounds with a formidable 5-foot leg span.

According to a Reddit post, Costco is currently selling wild-caught king crab legs for $43.99 per pound, with each box containing 10 pounds, totaling $439.99.

While they sell king crab legs and claws together, you can also buy a particular portion of the leg known as the Merus cut — the largest segment of the leg with the most meat.

King crab has become a rare sight at Costco since serious concerns about overfishing have put king crab populations at risk, and thrown its culinary future into question.

Although the king crab has not been marked with the infamous Costco price tag asterisk, the tumultuous fishery situation suggests that it will only be available for a limited time.